Singer and actress Dolly Parton and actor Tim Curry both died this week at the age of 80. The deaths were reported by NPR on Friday, August 28, 2026.
Parton was known as a singer, actress, and philanthropist. Curry was described as an iconic actor to fans of a specific, unnamed movie. Their deaths were included as subjects in a weekly news quiz published by the outlet.
The weekly quiz also featured questions regarding other current events. These included topics such as Meta, tariffs, Mark Carney, the Great Lakes, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Donald Trump.
For fans of Tim Curry, his death at 80 marks the end of a career for an actor described by NPR as iconic. Fans of the specific films he appeared in will notice the loss of a figure central to those works. The reporting did not specify the causes of death for either Parton or Curry or provide details on funeral arrangements or memorial services.
The inclusion of these figures alongside political and economic topics like tariffs and Meta in a national news quiz indicates their cultural relevance at the time of their passing. The news reached the public on August 28, 2026, through NPR's digital platforms. Further details regarding the circumstances of their deaths or future tributes were not reported in the initial announcement.